1 month ago
LAS MINAS, Cuba (AP) — Liexer De La Cruz took a deep breath as he entered a federal courtroom in Miami, where life as he knew it would end.
It was Jan. 9, and he thought he was attending a routine immigration hearing — not deciding on the rest of his life in just seconds, having to choose between returning to Cuba or risking deportation at any moment. He didn't have a chance to confer with his wife and sister who were waiting outside.
De La Cruz had spent five years putting down roots in the United States after crossing almost a dozen countries by car, foot, bus and boat. He thought of what he and his wife had accomplished after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas in August 2021, obtaining the immigration forms in hopes of requesting green cards via the Cuban Adjustment Act.
"The first thing I did was call my aunt and I told her, 'I'm in the United States. I'm in the United States.' And we began to cry," he recalled.
Cubans have historically received preferential access to a pathway to U.S. citizenship via the Cuban Adjustment Act, but they have been increasingly targeted under the second Trump administration.
#cuban
It was Jan. 9, and he thought he was attending a routine immigration hearing — not deciding on the rest of his life in just seconds, having to choose between returning to Cuba or risking deportation at any moment. He didn't have a chance to confer with his wife and sister who were waiting outside.
De La Cruz had spent five years putting down roots in the United States after crossing almost a dozen countries by car, foot, bus and boat. He thought of what he and his wife had accomplished after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas in August 2021, obtaining the immigration forms in hopes of requesting green cards via the Cuban Adjustment Act.
"The first thing I did was call my aunt and I told her, 'I'm in the United States. I'm in the United States.' And we began to cry," he recalled.
Cubans have historically received preferential access to a pathway to U.S. citizenship via the Cuban Adjustment Act, but they have been increasingly targeted under the second Trump administration.
#cuban
2 months ago
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) says the Democratic Party hasn't "answered the call" on affordability concerns as he acknowledges he's mulling a presidential run in 2028.
#chris #hollen #party #interview
#chris #hollen #party #interview
2 months ago
Evidence about Karmelo Anthony's alleged history with knives and violence was kept from the jury that convicted him of murder, prosecutors said Thursday as they fought his push for another trial.
The allegations surfaced during Anthony's new-trial hearing, where lead prosecutor Bill Wirske said Anthony's former girlfriend went to his school on the morning of the stabbing and reported that she was afraid of him.
Wirske also said the state had text messages and other material it contends showed Anthony's interest in violence and knives. None of that material was presented to jurors during Anthony's murder trial.
Texas Judge Who Presided Over Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial Removed From Case Over 'Got It Right' Comment
The prosecutor said Anthony's original defense team entered a verbal agreement with the state to keep character evidence involving Anthony, Austin Metcalf and Austin's brother, Hunter Metcalf, out of the trial.
#metcalf
The allegations surfaced during Anthony's new-trial hearing, where lead prosecutor Bill Wirske said Anthony's former girlfriend went to his school on the morning of the stabbing and reported that she was afraid of him.
Wirske also said the state had text messages and other material it contends showed Anthony's interest in violence and knives. None of that material was presented to jurors during Anthony's murder trial.
Texas Judge Who Presided Over Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial Removed From Case Over 'Got It Right' Comment
The prosecutor said Anthony's original defense team entered a verbal agreement with the state to keep character evidence involving Anthony, Austin Metcalf and Austin's brother, Hunter Metcalf, out of the trial.
#metcalf
